while there is life, there is hope; don't waste your life
Proverb emphasizing that life itself is the foundation for everything; as long as you are alive, you can achieve something, so you should not risk your life recklessly.
Since life is the foundation of everything, let's not attempt anything reckless.
He declined the dangerous job, saying, 'While there is life, there is hope.'
A more modern, emphatic expression meaning 'life is heavier than the Earth,' stressing the absolute value of life, while 命あっての物種 is a traditional proverb focusing on life as the prerequisite for all endeavors.
Standard kanji spelling for this proverb.
Variant spelling using kana for もの.
Rare variant using 有 for あ.
A traditional Japanese proverb. The exact origin is uncertain, but it has been used for centuries to convey the idea that life is the most fundamental asset.